Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael (1920-Feb 2010)

Subject: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 08 Feb 10 - 11:43 AM

Forgive me if a thread has already been started on Ian, who died last weekend, but I have been unable to trace one. I hope someone will combine threads if I have missed an earlier one.
Ian Carmichael was a fine English actor, specialising in 'silly ass' types.
He starred in classic British comedies such as 'I'm Alright Jack,', 'School For Scoundrels' and 'Lucky Jim' amongst many others and worked right up until his death with a role in Yorkshire TV's 'The Royal'.
From a Mudcat point of view, he will be remembered for a splendid interpretation of the immortal Bertie in 'The World Of Wooster', a programme about which some of us waxed lyrical on one of 2009's more enjoyable BS threads. R.I.P.

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Feb 10 - 12:48 PM

considering his work in TV I thought he would have got a higher profile on the bbc news then John dankworth

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael
From: M.Ted
Date: 08 Feb 10 - 12:51 PM

In the US, he will be forever remembered as Lord Peter Wimsey, and much loved.

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 08 Feb 10 - 01:04 PM

Oh...I remember him, just....Nice to hear he was working to the end..

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael
From: jacqui.c
Date: 08 Feb 10 - 01:07 PM

Another face from my childhood - a great actor. RIP Ian.

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 08 Feb 10 - 04:17 PM

He was, I believe, in "Private's Progress" and the memorable line to his commanding officer when he did not get up for morning formation--"..I am feeling a bit fragile today".

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 08 Feb 10 - 07:15 PM

He'll always be Lord Peter for me -- wish I had "Nine Tailors" or "Murder Must Advertise" on DVD.

Linn

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael
From: Genie
Date: 08 Feb 10 - 10:01 PM

I didn't see him in the role of Lord Peter Wimsey. (When PBS ran a series of Dorothy Parker mysteries a while back, that role was played by a different British actor, whose name escapes me for the moment).
But I remember him well as the romantic lead in the 1960s movie of "School For Soundrels,"
with Alastair Sim.

Wonderful actor.

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 08 Feb 10 - 10:26 PM

Genie ~ I think you are confusing Dorothy·s Parker and Sayers ~ by no means the same person.

But I agree with you as to the excellence of Ian Carmichael's performances ~ even if sometimes, as in the case of Wooster, perhaps just a bit too old for the part as written? {IMO the later series with Hugh Laurie & Stephen Fry as Wooster & Jeeves excelled the Carmichael/Dennis·Price one, even tho the latter two were so obviously typecast for the roles ~ largely because Laurie was so much nearer the age as conceived by Wodehouse; a pity however that Laurie's Wooster lost his eyeglass, which is explicitly mentioned by Wodehouse in the original narratives}.

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael
From: Genie
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 02:47 AM

I did mix up the Dorothys' names, M.   (Basically a brain fart.) But not the characters.
PBS did run a Lord Peter Wimsey mystery series a decade or two ago (time flies) with a different actor as Wimsey.

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 03:28 AM

P G Wodehouse was shown recordings of Ian Carmichael as Bertie by Frank Muir, head of comedy at the BBC in the sixties, and was very impressed.
Although it was generally agreed that Carmichael was a little old for the role, I don't think anyone at the time could have matched his style and flair (except, perhaps, Richard Briers?)
Wodehouse considered Dennis Price 'the definitive Jeeves', but all this was, of course, many years before Fry & Laurie came on the scene.

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 05:41 AM

===PBS did run a Lord Peter Wimsey mystery series a decade or two ago (time flies) with a different actor as Wimsey===

As far as I can ascertain by googling, Genie, the series on your PBS was a rerun of our tv series with Ian Carmichael. Are you sure there was another PBS series with another actor? ~ Michael

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael
From: GUEST,padgett on lap top
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 05:52 AM

TV news said he lived in The Esk Valley, North Yorkshire ~ probably sound better than many folkies second home Whitby [I saw him there]

Ray

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 06:08 AM

Lord Peter was later played by Edward Petherbridge in (IIRC) 3 stories, those which also featured Harriet Vane (Wimsey's future wife)
The Ian Carmichael versions are now out on DVD, but a little expensive as a full collection (around £50)

I do prefer the Ian Carmichael portrayal, with Glyn Houston as Bunter.

R.I.P.

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael
From: fat B****rd
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 06:33 AM

RIP Mr. Carmichael. Lucky Jim and I'm Alright Jack are favourites of mine. He and Richard Wattis played two splendid 'posh' types in The Colditz Story brilliantly.

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael
From: Bugsy
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 06:38 AM

Sad news indeed. It makes us all aware of just how mortal we all are. So many of my childhood heroes are dropping off the perch along with many who are my age and even younger.

WOrrying indeed.


Bugsy

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael
From: Les from Hull
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 08:13 AM

Ian Carmichael was 'from Hull' as well. So sad to see another one go.

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael
From: Pistachio
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 03:43 PM

Would I be correct thinking of him in (or as)'The Admirable Crighton' I too remember him in Colditz and as another military (possibly RAF) character.

RIP

H.

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael
From: gnu
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 04:55 PM

Great actor. RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael
From: MartinRyan
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 04:58 PM

Crighton = Kenneth More?

Regards

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Aug 10 - 08:25 PM

That's right, because I am the author of the Dorothy Parker Mystery series and it was launched this summer of 2010. Sayers it was!

Agata Stanford, author The Broadway Murders: A Dorothy Parker Mystery

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael
From: Genie
Date: 27 Aug 10 - 12:34 AM

MtheGM, the actor who played Lord Peter Wimsey on the PBS series I saw was definitely Edward Petherbridge

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael
From: Genie
Date: 27 Aug 10 - 12:38 AM

... only, Nigel, the actress who played Harriet Vane opposite Petherbridge's Lord Peter was Harriet Walter.

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 27 Aug 10 - 01:09 AM

Yes, thanks Genie. I do recall the Petherbridge/Harriet·Walter series also. These were generally well received, but I mainly remember being disappointed at the changes the adaptors made in the originals ~~ e.g. the failure to differentiate between the characters of the dons of Shrewsbury College in "Gaudy Night"; the egregious Miss Hillyard being gravely ill-represented.

I should perhaps mention that Dorothy L Sayers is a particular interest of mine, & that I wrote entries on her in both 'The Cambridge Guide To Literature In English' and 'The Continuum Encyclopedia Of British Literature'; so I think I may claim to know whereof I speak in criticising some aspects of the adaptations.

~Michael~

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael (1920-Feb 2010)
From: GUEST,Patsy Warren
Date: 27 Aug 10 - 05:37 AM

I have great childhood memories of Ian Carmichael especially in the role of Bertie Wooster with Dennis Price and I remember him teaming up with Terry Thomas in a film together another great character who's stand up comedy was hilarious as an upper-class cad. Those were the days.

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael (1920-Feb 2010)
From: alanabit
Date: 27 Aug 10 - 10:06 AM

One of the old school. Fine actor. Sorry to see him go.

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael (1920-Feb 2010)
From: Genie
Date: 27 Aug 10 - 10:37 AM

He was in School For Scoundrels with Terry-Thomas and Alastair Sim.

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael (1920-Feb 2010)
From: michaelr
Date: 27 Aug 10 - 10:14 PM

To me, Carmichael looked nothing like Lord Peter as Sayers describes him. Too old and stout. Petherbridge looked the part perfectly.

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael (1920-Feb 2010)
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 28 Aug 10 - 12:48 AM

Petherbridge too tall, tho. Lord Peter not a tall man. Carmichael not too old for the Lord Peter of Gaudy Night and Busman's Honeymoon, when he was 45 ~~ born 1890.

~Michael~

Subject: RE: Obit: Actor Ian Carmichael (1920-Feb 2010)
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 28 Aug 10 - 08:30 AM

Pistachio,

I think 'The Admirable Crichton' (in the film version, at least) was Kenneth More.